Joshua from Missouri asks: " We own chickens and are trying to become more self sufficient and sustaining. Instead of buying feed for them, is there a way to grow their whole diet in the garden? I've looked online, but the only nutrition info about a chicken's diet is mainly their protein percentage needed. What about all the other macro and micronutrients? Is there a list of crops to grow that would make a balanced, nutritious daily meal for the egg layers? So far, I've done the math and about ...
Feb 20, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 12
We are at the time of the year to start pepper seeds indoors. Pepper seeds, can be notoriously slow to germinate, sometimes taking up to three weeks. We have tips to speed up pepper seed germination, with a little help from America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower. Have you heard of coppicing? It’s a drastic pruning technique where some woody plants are cut back, close to ground level to stimulate the growth of vigorous shoots. I happened upon a demonstration of c...
Feb 16, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 11
Q&A Lawn Drainage Improvement Tips (00:25 of pod) Perennial Plant Pruning Information (16:01 of pod) Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net . Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout . Pictured: Lawn aerator and dethatcher Links: Subscribe to the free, Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter https://gardenbasics.substack.com Smart Pots https://smartpots.com/fred/ Dave Wi...
Feb 13, 2024•24 min•Season 5Ep. 10
Do you want a successful garden? Before planting, you need to do some planning. And if it’s a first garden, you need to do a lot of planning. It’s not overwhelming, but it is necessary for a productive garden of food and flowers. Today, America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower, and I offer tips for your first garden or a new garden. Tips that will save you a lot of time and money in your pursuit of getting your family the healthiest food possible, as well as the m...
Feb 09, 2024•50 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Sacramento County Master Gardener and orchardist Quentyn Young answers a question from Missouri about raising mason bees, an excellent garden pollinator (better than honeybees!). Mason Bee Basics, Pt. 1 0:23 Mason Bee Basics, Pt. 2 11:06 Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net . Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout . Pictured: Mason Bee Houses in Barcelona, Spain Link...
Feb 06, 2024•23 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Garden experts agree: if you are an inexperienced gardener or a first time gardener, you’re best, confidence-building step is to plant easy to grow vegetables, flowers, and fruit. For those taking their first steps into growing fruit, especially for those with a limited space, perhaps just a patio area, it’s hard to beat container grown blueberries. Give them some basic needs, and you’ll have fresh, nutritious blueberries for years and years. How do you start? What are the best varieties to grow...
Feb 02, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 7
• Seed Starting Tips, including how to read seed packet instructions : 00:24 • The Hori Hori Knife; Oxalis and bittercress weed control tips: 19:06 • Want to Leave Us a Question? Here's How: 32:39 Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net . Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout Pictured: Young tomato plants, hardening off. Links: Subscribe to the free, Beyond the Garden ...
Jan 30, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Quite often, when a new or curious gardener wants to know, “What should I plant in my garden?” One of my common responses is: “it’s hard to go wrong with All-America Selections Winners.” The AAS has been independently trialing and judging plants, across North America, since the 1930’s. The judges are experts in the field of horticulture, including seed and plant developers, arboretums, garden centers, public gardens, and land grant universities. Among the AAS winners that I’ve tried that have fo...
Jan 26, 2024•33 min•Season 5Ep. 5
The Tuesday edition of the Garden Basics podcast is back, where we will answer garden questions each week. Today's question is from Meredith in Maryland: "Hi Farmer Fred! I love your podcast and have learned so much. I wanted to see if you had a list of garden tools or products you like. I have a big birthday coming up so I want to get a wish list in order! Thanks for your help." Good question! Let's get several ideas from other experienced gardeners, as well, including America's Favorite Retire...
Jan 23, 2024•19 min•Season 5Ep. 4
What are you planning on doing in the garden in 2024? The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has spoken to gardeners, growers and professional nurseries and landscapers throughout America to find out what’s on their to do list this year…or not to do. For example, quieter gardening is a trend. So is how leaves from your trees are being put to use. Among the popular plants for 2024: Fruit trees, houseplants, ornamental grasses, sedges and an overwhelming demand for hydrangeas. Also homeowners are ...
Jan 19, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Today, we present a double dose of the Debbies on the Garden Basics podcast. First, Master Rosarian Debbie Arrington has tips on what to look for when selecting those bare looking roses that are hitting the nurseries this winter. Some garden center them packaged in plastic wrap, some nurseries will pot up the bare rose plants in containers, and some nurseries with have plunged those bare root roses directly into a bed of sawdust. Debbie Arrington has advice on how to tell if the rose you are sel...
Jan 12, 2024•39 min•Season 5Ep. 2
What were the most downloaded Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast episodes of 2023? What were the most listened-to segments? Here are the Top 5 winners of 2023, chosen by you, the listeners. Topics include tomatoes (naturally), container gardening, plant arranging, and - the most listened-to topic of not just 2023, but the highest listenership of any episode in all four years of the Garden Basics podcast: cucumbers! It's nearly two hours worth of great gardening information to kick off Year 5...
Jan 05, 2024•1 hr 54 min•Season 5Ep. 1
1. The Top Homegrown Vegetables, pt. 2 (Begins at 1:49) 2. The 2023 Tomato Preview Show (14:02) 3. Soil Irrigation Basics (33:52) 4. Fall Garden Basics (51:23) 5. 11 Tips for Garden Success (1:14:17) Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and TRANSCRIPTS at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net . Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout . Pictured: A river of tomatoes and peppers (Heirloom Expo) Help Keep This Podcast Going by...
Dec 29, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Season 4Ep. 52
Christmas Tree Care Tips, for both cut and living trees: at 1:36 of the podcast. Why are the Leaves on My Citrus Tree Turning Yellow?: 9:37 Why are My Citrus Fruit Splitting? 25:22 Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and TRANSCRIPTS at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net . Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout . Pictured: A Rosemary Christmas Tree Display Help Keep This Podcast Going by Supporting Our Sponsors! Smart P...
Dec 22, 2023•35 min•Season 4Ep. 51
Today, we are talking about New Plants for the 2024 garden year. How about a houseplant that you can eat? And better yet, it’s actually a small cucumber plant! Have you heard of the petchoa (Pet-Koa)? It’s a cross between a petunia and a calibrichoa, the plant you may know as Million Bells. The petchoa is a plant with large flowers and a tidy habit for baskets, planters, or gardens. Those and more new plants for 2024. It’s all on today’s episode. We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in...
Dec 15, 2023•51 min•Season 4Ep. 50
The tasty fruits that we delve into today may not be familiar to you, especially if you live west of the Rocky Mountains. However, elsewhere in the country, pawpaws and native persimmons are a taste treat. Master Gardener and international gardening expert Quentyn Young tells us about growing and pruning pawpaws and native persimmons throughout the United States. From Dave Wilson Nursery, Phil Pursel says the best fruit, vine and berry deals are coming soon to a nursery near you. In the west, th...
Dec 08, 2023•48 min•Season 4Ep. 49
Today we answer a listener’s question: can we reduce the height of an old, beloved backyard apple tree to a height where we can reach the fruit while standing on the ground? Yes, but it will take several growing seasons for it to return to production. America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture Professor, Debbie Flower and myself talk about all the ways to reduce the height of an overgrown apple tree. Plus, we discuss a gardening trend gaining popularity east of the Rockies: gravel gardening...
Dec 01, 2023•39 min•Season 4Ep. 48
One listener writes in and asks, "What is boring the holes into my Fuji Apples?" More than likely, it is the larvae of the codling moth, a pest that commonly attacks apples and pears. Unfortunately, codling moth is one of the more difficult to control garden pests. However, America’s Favorite Retired College Horticultural Professor, Debbie Flower is here, and we have tips on how to limit codling moth populations. Also, the plant lady, Marlene Simon, has advice on how to protect your outdoor succ...
Nov 24, 2023•43 min•Season 4Ep. 47
Today we take a look at two extremes of vexing garden problems around the world: the tiny, tiny nematodes that attach to plant roots, sucking the life out of them…and one you don’t need a microscope to see: deer. They both love your garden. At least with nematodes there are a few resistant plants. But when it comes to deer resistant plants, well, good luck. It depends how hungry those deer are. So how do you control root know nematodes, and marauding deer? America’s Favorite Retired College Hort...
Nov 17, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 46
What are the habits of successful gardeners? A couple of Master Gardeners from Santa Clara and San Joaquin Counties, in California pursued that question awhile back. They discovered several tips and tricks that seasoned, happy gardeners use for garden success. Today, America’s Favorite Retired College Horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, and myself share their top ten habits of Successful and Happy Gardeners with you, along with our thoughts that take us down, yet again, many scenic bypasses o...
Nov 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 45
Before the weather chases you back indoors, maybe it’s time you considered a greenhouse to continue your gardening year round: a greenhouse is perfect for starting seeds, maintaining tropical or semi tropical plants such as citrus or orchids, a place to keep your potted plants alive and well in the winter, or growing vegetables year round. We talk with Mark Seibert of Sturdi-Built greenhouses in Oregon about the questions you should ask yourself before purchasing a greenhouse. Originally aired i...
Nov 03, 2023•38 min•Season 4Ep. 44
In many parts of the country, it’s garlic planting time. Debbie Flower and I talk about many aspects of growing backyard garlic. (at 1:25 of podcast) Plus we talk with fruit tree expert Phil Pursel about growing and harvesting persimmons in the fall. (16:26) And Master Gardener Kathy Morrison has fall recipes made from your cool season backyard crops, especially apples. (26:40) We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory. It’s the Garden ...
Oct 27, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 43
Today, we compare notes with Davis, California nursery owner Don Shor, an avid tomato grower, about our 2023 tomato successes and failures. And, we check with the tomato trials done this past summer at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center. It’s a wide ranging conversation not only about hybrid and heirloom tomato varieties that were notable for size, flavor, production, vigor..or lack thereof… it also includes some great tips for growing and caring for your 2024 tomato garden, no matter which varie...
Oct 20, 2023•52 min•Season 4Ep. 42
Fall Berry Care (1:58 of podcast) Debbie Flower Explains Stuff I Had Questions About (18:33) We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory (and on location at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center). It’s the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots , and Dave Wilson Nursery . Let’s go! Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and TRANSCRIPTS at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred,...
Oct 13, 2023•43 min•Season 4Ep. 41
Bulb Planting Basics (at 1:27 of podcast) Young Fruit Tree Care (22:04) We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory. It’s the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery . Let’s go! Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and TRANSCRIPTS at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net . Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzspr...
Oct 06, 2023•40 min•Season 4Ep. 40
Electroculture Gardening vs. the Scientific Method (at 3:08 of podcast) Growing Avocados in Marginal Climates (27:54) We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory. It’s the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots , and Dave Wilson Nursery . Let’s go! Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and TRANSCRIPTS at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net . Transcript...
Sep 29, 2023•40 min•Season 4Ep. 39
How do you plant seeds in a garden bed full of mulch? America’s favorite retired college horticultural professor, Debbie Flower, and I quickly answered that and then veered into a very scenic bypass - as is our custom. This time: we rank garden mulches from best to worst. If you want to know the best products to use for a mulch - and the ones to avoid - you’ll want to listen. Also: what the worms in your worm bin are trying to tell you about what they want in order to be happy, this fall and win...
Sep 22, 2023•59 min•Season 4Ep. 38
• Fall Vegetable Soil Preparation (at 2:08 of podcast) • Fall Fruit Tree Care (9:54) • Fall Rose Care (17:23) • Preserving Tomatoes (27:40) • How long do garden pesticides last? (35:24) It’s all right here, in episode number 283, Fall Garden Preparation; and, How Long Can You Store Pesticides? Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and TRANSCRIPTS at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net . Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzspr...
Sep 15, 2023•45 min•Season 4Ep. 37
Renee Shepherd of Renee’s Garden talks about the "cut and come again" leafy green garden, how anyone can be enjoying fresh lettuce, spinach, chard, cabbage and other nutritious greens on a daily basis, no matter how small your yard. Want to make your own mulch? We have tips for purchasing a chipper/shredder - the features that it should have for a hassle-free experience. It’s the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots , and Dave Wilson Nursery . Let’s go! Prev...
Sep 08, 2023•43 min•Season 4Ep. 36
What does it take to have the best cool season organic garden in your neighborhood? The best soil! We have tips. Also: advice for controlling tomato hornworms. It’s the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery . Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and TRANSCRIPTS at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net and at Buzzsprout . Pictured: Fall Greens. Links: Subscribe to the free, Beyond the G...
Sep 01, 2023•45 min•Season 4Ep. 35
